Electromagnetically controlled valve arrangements for fluids



inventors Harald Stampeli Petit-Sconnex; Jean-Louis Treyvaud, Geneva, Switzerland Appl. No. 746,916 Filed July 23, 1968 Patented Oct. 20, 1970 Assignee Lucifer S.A.

Carouge-Geneva, Switzerland a company of Switzerland Priority Aug. 14, 1967 Switzerland [1,415/67 ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FLUIDS 9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 137/553, l37/625.65.251/85. 137

int. Cl ..Fl6k 11/02, Fl6k 3 H04 Field ofSearch l37/625.63, 625.64, 625.65, 596.16, 596.17. 553.554; 251/65,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,405,127 8/1946 Beach 251/65 2,617,444 11/1952 Gardner l37/625.64 3,023,576 3/1962 Musgrave 251/65X 3,269,417 8/1966 Lansky et a1 l. 137/625.o4

Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen ABSTRACT: A valve arrangement wherein the electromagnetically controlled core carries yieldingly a valve member rigid with a control rod. Said core is urged elastically in a direction opposed to its electromagnetic control so that the valve member releases the opening controlled by it. Said rod projects outwardly to provide both a visual indication and a positive control of said valve member when required. A push button surrounding the rod is urged elastically against an abutment on the latter in order to prevent the valve member from releasing its seat under the action of its electromagnetic control. unless the push button is held in a depressed position away from the abutment.

ELECTROMAGNETICALLY CONTROLLED VALVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FLUlDS Electromagnetically controlled valve arrangements for fluids are already known which include a movable magnetic core subjected to a returning force and adapted to be shifted under the action of a magnetic field produced by a winding fed by an electric current, said core carrying at least one valve member cooperating with a seat so as to open and close a fluid channel as required and according to the position assumed by the core, the core being manually controllable from the outside of the valve arrangement by a rod the axis of which is parallel with the direction of movement of the core and which extends through the seat so as to act on the core.

in all prior known arrangements, said rod may be shifted so as to engage the valve member on the core or the actual core thereby to shift the latter and lock the valve arrangement in a predetermined position.

The present invention has for its object to check whether the movable core is freely operative and to allow a handoperated shifting of said core without it being necessary to dismantle the valve arrangement, for instance in the case of a failure of electric current or for adjustments outside the operative cycles.

This result is obtained through the fact that according to the invention, one end of said rod is rigid with the valve member;

Said arrangement allows also forming an indicator showing visually the actual condition of the valve arrangement, said indicatot being possibly constituted by the rod itself. The manual control means may include two parts of which one is connected with the core through the agency of the valve member, while the other is free and may be readily held fast in either of two extreme positions.

The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically and by way of example two embodiments of an improved valve arrangement executed in conformity with the invention. in said drawing:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a first embodiment provided with a return pipe for the fluid conveyed.

P16. 2 is a similar cross section of a second embodiment comprising no return pipe for the fluid conveyed.

FIG. 3 is a cross section through line ill-Ill of FIG. 2.

Turning to FIG. 1, the valve arrangement includes a body 1 provided with threaded bores 2 and 3 which allow connecting said body with input and output pipes for the fluid to be controlled by said valve, said fluid being gasiform or liquid.

The body .1 is also provided with a further threaded bore 4 inside which is screwed a support 5 carrying a tube 6 made of a non-magnetic material such as brass. Said tube is slidingly engaged by a movable ferromagnetic core 7. Said core 7 is subjected to the pressure of a spring 8 urging it towards the seat 9 adapted to be closed by a valve member 10 floatingly carried by the core 7 with the interposition of the spring Ill. The core 7 can rotate freely inside the tube 6, friction, chiefly that exerted by the spring 8, being negligible.

The core 7 is provided with at least one longitudinal slot 112 and carries at its upper end another valve member 1.3 constituted by a small disc of a yielding material, such as an elastomer, resting on a metal plate 14. Said plate M which is urged upwards by a spring is provided along its periphery with a stud 16 engaging the slot 12 in the core 7, so as to prevent the valve member 13 from rotating with reference to the core and to allow thus a screwing of the upper end of the rod 21 rigid with said plate 14 inside the control knob 25.

The upper end of the tube 6 encloses a stationary cylindrical ferromagnetic member 18. The tube 6 surrounded by a casing enclosing a winding 19 fed by an electric current and acting on the ferromagnetic core 7.

As mentioned, the metal plate 14 carrying the valve member 13 is rigid with a rod 21 extending in the direction of movement of the core 7. Said rod passes through a push button 22 slidingly fitted inside a hollow cylindrical extension 23 of the ferromagnetic member 18. Said push button 22 is subjected to the action of a spring 24 urging it against the cylindrical knob 25 screwed over the upper end of the rod 211, said knob 25 being adapted to rest through its lower end on the inner shoulder 26 of the push button 22. A packing 27 is inserted between the rod 21 and the knob 22 so as to ensure fluidtightness.

The outer surface of the push button 22 is provided with a longitudinal groove 28 cooperating with a lug 29 cut out of the ferromagnetic member 18 and projecting inwardly of the latter.

Said groove 28 opens into an arcuate peripheral groove 35]! forming with it a bayonet system locking the push button 22 in its lower position when the lug 29 is. caused to enter said groove Ell. A port 17 provides a connection between said groove 30 and the axial passage formed in the push button 22.

The cylindrical extension 23 of the ferromagnetic member i8 is furthermore surrounded by a sleeve 31 locked in position over the casing 20 by a nut 32. The sleeve is provided with an inner peripheral groove 33, into which there opens an outer pipe 34', collecting the recovered fluid which flows towards the exhaust after opening of the valve member 13.

When the core 7 is in its upper position as illustrated, the seat 9 is left open by the valve member ltl so that the threaded bores 2 and 3 and consequently the input and output pipes communicate, while the upper valve member l3 closes the axial passage formed in the ferromagnetic member l8 by engaging the seat 35 on the latter.

if, in contradistinction, the core 7 has entered its lower position, the valve member lli closes the seat Q while the threaded bore 3 opening into the output pipe communicates with the collecting pipe 34 through the slot H2 in the core 7, the axial passage in the ferromagnetic member t8, the port 17 and the annular groove 33.

When the push button 22 is in the position illustrated in FlG. ii, the valve arrangement is held in its open position, that is the input and output pipes are connected as provided by the spring 24! which urges upwardly, through the agency of the push button 22, the system including tw rod 2i, the valve member 113 and the core 7. For such a position, the energized or deenergized condition of the winding 29 has no action on the operation of the valve. if in contradistinction the operator depresses the push button 22 and locks it in its depressed position by causing it to rock round its axis shifting angularly the groove (Ed-3d with reference to the lug 29 which is now held as in a bayonet joint, the spring 24 can no longer urge the core 7 upwardly and consequently said core is urged downwardly by the spring 8 and closes the opening in the seat 9. For this depressed position of the push button 22, the rod 21 is free to slide upwardly in said button for allowing a shifting of the core 7 under the control of the current feeding the winding 119. When the latter is energized, the ferromagnetic member 18 is magnetized and attracts the core 7, so as to shift it upwardly in antagonism with the spring 8. When the energization of the winding 19 is cut ofi, the spring 8 returns the core 7 into its lower position so as to make the valve member it close the opening in the seat 9. it should be remarked that the outer diameter of the knob 22 and that of the upper extension 23 of the rod 18 are smaller than the inner diameter of the winding W to easily remove the sleeve 31 after release of the nut 32. Said arrangement is of a considerable interest since it allows changing the winding 19 or positioning it over the completely assembled valve arrangement. Thus, the producer can-have in stock a number of valve, arrangements carrying no winding so that each valve can be provided with the desired winding at the moment of its handing over to the buyer who has merely to state the voltage available to him for the energization of the reference to the core 7, it is possible to manually control the latter through depression of the rod 21 or of the push button 22. This may be of considerable advantage whenever the latter is jammed by impure particles carried by the fluid. It should also be remarked that it is impossible to remove the push button 22 without completely dismantling the valve arrangement since it is necessary to first release the cylindrical knob 25, this being possible only by holding fast the core 7 against rotation. so as to lock the rod 21 in position during the unscrewing of the knob 25.

Of course, if the fluid controlled by the valve arrangement according to FIG. 1 is valueless and constituted by air, it is not necessary to provide the packing at 27 nor the sleeve 31 with its collecting pipe 34 adapted to recover fluid. In fact, said sleeve may be replaced in the case of such a valueless fluid by a mere spacing block allowing a clamping in position of the casing 20 enclosing the winding 19 by the nut 32, the fluid escaping then freely through the port 17 opening into the groove 30.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 is practically identical with that illustrated in FIG. 1, except for the design of the upper end of the rod 21 and of the push button 22 and for the omission of the sleeve 31. In this second embodiment adapted for operation with an electric energy reduced to a minimum. the packing 27 between the push button 22 and the rod 21 has been omitted so as to reduce friction during the shifting of the rod 21. With a view to ensuring a fluidtight closing of the knob 22 in the case where it is desired to recover the fluid escaping beyond the valve member 13 by means such as the collecting sleeve 31 of FIG. 1, the central opening of the push button 22 is closed by a threaded plug 36 clamping in position a packing 37 In such an embodiment. the movements of the rod 21 cannot be seen any more from the outside; however, the cylindrical knob 25 capping said rod includes a section 38 formed by a permanent magnet while a ring 39 of ferromagnetic material is slidingly fitted over a nonmagnetic sleeve 40 surrounding the push button 22. Thus. the ring 39 is constrained to follow the movements of the magnetic section 38 and provides a visual indication of the position of the core 7. The part of the sleeve 40 over which the ring 39 is adapted to slide carries two spaced annular strips which are covered and uncovered in alternation by the ring 39, so as to further the reading of the location of said ring, for instance by colour.

An advantageous modification of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 allows a locking of the valve in a desired position. To this end, it is sufficient to provide an arrangement locking button 22 as required in any one of three predetermined positions. For its medial position which is that illustrated in FIG. 2, it is possible to control the valve arrangement electrically. For the upper receding position of the push button 22 urged upwards by the spring 24, the valve member 13 is closed as in the case illustrated in FIG. I. For the third position of the push button 22. that is its completely depressed position. the threaded plug 36 engages the rod 2.1, so as to urge the core 7 downwardly thereby to hold the valve member on its seat 9.

' We claim: p

1. In a fluid controlling valve arrangement, the combination of a tubular support provided with fluid inlet and outlet openings, a magnetic core adapted to slide inside said tubular support, electromagnetic means adapted to shift said core inside its support in a predetermined direction, elastic means urging permanently said core inside said support in a direction opposed to said predetermined direction, a valve member yieldingly carried by the core and adapted to be shifted between two positions for which it closes and releases respectively one of said openings, a rod extending longitudinally of said tubular support and rigid with said valve member and hand-operable means through which the rod is longitudinally shiftable from the outside of the arrangement.

2. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-operable means include a push button adapted to slide inside the tubular support and provided with an axial bore slidingly engaged by the rod, abutment means on the rod, engageable by the push button thereby to limit the relative movement of the rod in the direction for which the valve member enters its opening-releasing position, a spring urging said push button in a direction for which the latter engages the abutment means to shift the valve into its opening-closing position.

.3. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1. including means carried by the end of the rod opposed to the valve member and providinga visual indication of the location of the latter.

4. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1. wherein the hand-operable means include a push button adapted to slide inside the tubular support and provided with an axial bore slidingly engaged by the rod, the end of the rod opposed to the valve member being adapted to-pr oject outwardly of the push button thereby to visually indicate the location of the valve member. abutment means on'tlie rod. engageable by the push button thereby to limit the relative movement of the rod in the direction for which the valve member .enters its openingreleasing position, a spring urging said push button in a direction for which the latter engages the abutment means to shift the valve into its opening-closing position.

5. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-operable means include a push button adapted to slide inside the tubular support .and provided with an axial bore slidingly engaged by the a cylindrical knob screwed over the end of the rod opposed to the valve member and engageable by the corresponding end of the push button thereby to limit the relative movement of the rod in the direction for which the valve member enters its opening-releasing position, a spring urging said push button in a direction for which the latter engages the said knob to shift the valve into its openingclosing position.

6 A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-operable means include a push button adapted to slide inside the tubular support and provided with an axial bore slidingly engaged by the rod, abutment means on the rod, engageable by the push button thereby to limit the relative movement of the rod in the direction for which the valve member enters its opening-releasing position, a spring urging said push button in a direction for which the latter engages the abutment means to shift the valve into its opening-closing position and a bayonet joint between the tubular support and the push button adapted to hold the latter fast against the action of said spring away from the abutment means to allow a free sliding movement of the rod between the positions for which it closes and releases the corresponding opening.

7. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-operable means include a push button adapted to slide inside the tubular support and provided with an axial bore slidingly engaged by the rod, a cylindrical knob screwed over the end of the rod opposed to the valve member and engageable by the corresponding end of the push button thereby to limit the relative movement of the rod in the direction for which the valve member enters its opening-releasing position, a spring urging said push button in a direction for which the latter engages the said knob to shift the valve into its openingclosing position, a stationary member fitted inside the tubular support between the core and the valve member and provided with a seat adapted to cooperate with the valve member to close the corresponding opening, the core being adapted to freely revolve inside the tubular support and moving axially in unison with the valve member and the rod.

8. A valve arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hand-operable means include a push button adapted to slide inside the tubular support and provided with an axial bore slidingly engaged by the rod, a cylindrical knob screwed over the end of the rod opposed to the valve member and engageable by the corresponding end of the push button thereby to limit the relative movement of the rod in the direction for which the valve member enters its opening-releasing position,

a spring urging said push button in a direction for which the latter engages said knob to shift the latter into its openingclosing position, a stationary member fitted inside the tubular support between the core and the valve member and provided with a seat adapted to cooperate with the valve member to close the corresponding opening, a tubular extension of said stationary member in which the corresponding end of the push button is slidingly carried, a casing enclosing the electromagnetic means and means surrounding the tubular extension and the push button and holding fast said casing in position on the tubular support, the inner diameter of said casing and electromagnetic means being larger than the outer diameter of the push button and of the extension.

9". A valve arrangement as claimed in claim wherein the hand-operable means include a push button adapted to slide inside the tubular support and provided with an axial bore slidingly engaged by the rod, a plug closing the bore to enclose the corresponding free end of the rod therein, a magnet secured to said free end of the rod, a ring magnetically cooperating with said magnet and slidingly fitted around the push button to indicate the position of the rod and reference marks carried by the outer surface of the push button to define the location of the ring on said surface, abutment means on the rod engageable by the push button thereby to limit the relative movement of the rod in the direction for which the valve member enters in its opening-releasing position, a spring urging said push button in a direction for which the valve engages the abutment means to shift the latter into its openingclosing position.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION October 20, 1970 Patent No. 3 534 772 Dated Inventor) Harald stampfli et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the title page [72] lines 1 and 2 should appear as shown below:

- Harald Stampfli Geneva, Switzerland Signed and sealed this 1st day of June 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 503764 59 FORM PO-IOSO (1D-69) u.s. sovzmmem rummus orncc; nus o-su-sn 

